Favorite Blog Posts of 2016

The only one who is due a platform is Jesus. Get off it and build yourself a low seat (Lu. 14:10).“ I want to say that. I also want to say, “Stop being concerned about you and get yourself obsessed with him.” I want to say that too, but then, I realize, in some ways, I would need to carbon copy myself on this email – and put myself in handcuffs. I am guilty.

It is hard to escape the lure; it is endorsed so heavily, by the world, as the way to go.

So, I stack bricks and mortar trying to reach some higher plane, but what I need to do is bow down and let Jesus reign.

This post speaks straight to my heart! Thank you Kelly. 🙂

Kelly’s new book, Fear-Fighting: Awaken Courage to Overcome Your Fears is available for preorder. Kathie Lee Gifford featured it as one of her favorite things and it’s also #1 in New Releases on Amazon right now. Cheering Kelly on as she empowers others to fight fear with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Bloggers: Checkout the exciting writing contest that Kelly is running as part of her book launch.

If we live our lives stuck in a state of what if, our what ifs will become could-have-beens. And I don’t want to live my life that way. I want to live a life fueled by the One who never settled for safe.

As this new spirit continues to grow inside of me, so does the passion to move forward into unchartered waters. It may not always be easy, but heaven knows it will be an adventure.

Abby just welcomed in her third child into the world. This post was inspired by God’s miracle in bringing her sweet baby girl into her arms.

The progression of my mother’s disease (Alzheimer’s) is evident in the notes she scribbled throughout her Bible. She used whiteout to rewrite her first name, perhaps misspelling it the first time. Near a favorite Psalm she wrote, “Pas The Lored,” and by Philippians 4 she wrote, “Paise God. Ameen God.” Though she couldn’t spell the word, she still chose to praise Him.

Judy is an acquisition’s editor with Moody Publishing. She has a heart to disciple women and writes beautifully about the wonder of God on her blog.

Yes, my kids might do fabulous things. But I promise they will screw up too. They might offend you, they might get arrested, they might lead someone astray. And while I pray this isn’t the case, I can’t make them perfect.

Jami is snarky, fun, and loves Jesus. The message of grace is changing everything for Jami as she encourages others to rest in Christ’s finished work on the cross. Her first book, Stolen Jesus, will be published next year- it’s fantastic!

I don’t want to be intrusive in your life or rob you of the joy you share with your wife. You belong to her in every way. And I don’t want to mess that up.

You’ve blessed me with a daughter I didn’t have. I want her to know I’m not competing for you or with her and I’m not judging her every move. Oh, quite the opposite. I want to be her champion—her safe place, her friend.

Christy encourages moms to raise their kids with open hands—to let them go and cheer them on in adulthood.

We have so much power to shake up the world with our words and our music and our art. We can move people to action, with our own ability to dream and create. Every period of human history has been changed by human contribution.

It’s easier for me to fall into the trap of comparison when I focus on what I am not, instead of what I am. I don’t have anything to prove by pretending to be someone I’m not and neither do you. We are God’s unique masterpiece. We have nothing to prove to Him. He has already approved us.

Besides having some of the prettiest hands, #handmodel, Karina is a big time encourager and anointed pray-er. Karina writes for incourage and has a heart for worship.

Ask for help: Aren’t you glad we don’t have to journey alone? Who are your 3 people that you could call at 4 AM in the morning and they’d help you in a heartbeat? We all need those people!

Pray: After my “mini meltdown” this week, it was GREAT to go to the coffee shop yesterday for 3 hours and just pray, lifting all of my concerns/needs/worries to God! I’m leaning hard on Him and His Word as I learn how to “cope” with these “tight spots” in life!

As my child becomes too big to hold or pick up, it’s time to transition to FOLDing. I’ll always have influence, but little by little I must entrust my child back to God. And when my children are fully grown, I must give up control completely.

Trying to control what I ultimately cannot will only make everyone (me included) miserable.

Shannon is a recovering controller, like me. She is releasing her first book next month, Control Girl: Lessons on Surrendering Your Burden of Control from Seven Women in the Bible. You can pre-order it today!

I had fallen in both of extremes, turning to food as my comfort as well as priding myself in how many hours I can go without eating. And in both cases, I missed the point: Jesus invites us…to feast on Him instead.

We’re back with the Listen Close, Listen Well Series. We took a break last month because of the Grounded Series, but now we’re back with a powerful story about listening from the lovely, Lisa Appelo.

Serving a Stranger

By: Lisa Appelo

My eyes fluttered open at the sound of my cell phone ringing. Reaching for it on the bedside table, I saw it was my oldest daughter.

Having launched several children from home, I’ve learned to take their calls when they call – whether I’m in the grocery line or tackling my to-do list or just nodding off to sleep. So when her call came in, I answered.

“Hey! What’s up?” I asked, trying to hide my sleepiness.

But this wasn’t a call to chat or catch up. She’d seen something and was torn about how to respond, whether to respond. She began to explain that she had been driving home from work and as she exited the interstate, she saw a woman next to the off-ramp holding up a cardboard sign. The woman looked to be in her mid-30s with a small frame and dyed blonde highlights.

Her sign indicated she had no job and needed money.

Should she help or not? Handing off money wasn’t always the wisest and was temporary at best. Driving the woman somewhere was too risky. And if she stopped, what was she getting herself into?

But she couldn’t ignore the nudge to help. Coming off the exit, she made a U-turn and pulled over. That’s when she called me but even as she talked, she formed a plan.

“I’ll park at Huddle House, Mom. It’s just across the street. And then skateboard over and invite her to breakfast.”

As we hung up, I had mixed sentiments. I was grateful for her compassionate heart, the way she saw need, but I also wanted her protected from the kind of messy hard that might be involved.

And, really, can problems that land someone on the roadside holding a cardboard sign untangle over one bought meal?

I moved on with my morning, starting breakfast and chores and schooling with my younger kids. About an hour later, my cell rang again.

This time she was bubbling over with an update.

After inviting the woman to Huddle House, they began to talk. The woman said she’d been holding her sign for 4 hours and had received $4.00. Seems she was from the area but found herself jobless and homeless.

When they walked into Huddle House, the woman spotted her former boss. She flagged him down and as they began to catch up, the three now sat down for breakfast. My daughter listened as the woman poured out her story – a series of poor decisions, an accident that left her without a car and a breakup that left her without a home.

More conversation showed that the boss was a stable business owner who seemed truly involved with his employees. He updated the woman on the business, on various co-workers.

And then he began offering the woman some real help — he could hire her back; he would find her a ride to work. He admonished and counseled her. As they rose to go, he paid the entire breakfast bill and turning to my daughter, chidingly cautioned her to be careful with strangers.

Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”

The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” -Matthew 25:37-40

When the Holy Spirit prompts, I can so often push back —

The need can look overwhelming. My help can seem inadequate. The nudge can feel risky.The situation can look messy.

And what will we be getting ourselves into?

But God doesn’t ask us to solve the problem; he only asks us to serve the person.

Our job is simple — to cooperate with God. To see need and as we’re able, to meet need.

On this day, God had asked for a U-turn and an invitation to Huddle House. His Providential provision was already in place.

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Getting Along for a Lifetime

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

As most of America tuned into the Presidential Debate (in St. Louis), we did not witness the nominees demonstrating love or honor. Mr. Trump and Ms. Clinton did not “model appropriate and good behavior for today’s youth”, or for our country, in the way they talked and acted.

They interrupted, they belittled, and they maliciously accused each other.

In a day and age where Facebook feeds are filled with slander and hate and loved ones turn against each other due to political differences, religious convictions, and sports team loyalties, it’s time to choose a more excellent way.

Dear tween, I know it’s hard to get along with your siblings. I understand that they drive you crazy with their teasing, antics, and rude comments, but they are a precious gift given to you by God.

Many years ago, when one of our friends was babysitting, Brooke and her brother had an argument about which game they should play. They couldn’t come to an agreement and were getting madder by the minute.

Our friend came up with a great strategy to turn the tide on their tension. He had Brooke and her brother face each other. He then asked, “Brooke, who is this?” And he prompted her to respond, “This is my brother. A gift God gave me.” He then invited her brother to do that same, “This is Brooke. A gift God gave me.”

Although the tension didn’t evaporate completely it was diffused by the love and honor that was demonstrated through word and action.

It was difficult to watch the Presidential Debate without getting fired up with anger, frustration, and disbelief. The candidates needed to implement a version of the babysitter’s game.

Mr. Trump, who is this beside you? It’s Hillary. A woman, made in the image of God.

Ms. Clinton? Who is this beside you? It’s Donald. A man, created by God.

And then as the tension was so thick it was suffocating, came a glimmer of hope. At the end of the debate, audience member, Karl Becker, asked the candidates this question:

Would either of you name one positive thing that you respect in one other?” -Karl Becker

And the nominees answered and we applauded. The tide turned, if but for a few minutes, as love and honor surfaced.

Dear tween, dear parent, dear America, dear world, if you want to get along for a lifetime, consider living out the truth found in the unchanging, timeless truth of Scripture.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” -Romans 12:9-10

Whether you are in a squabble with a sibling or a disagreement with a coworker or fellow nominee, remember these key principles:

Let love be genuine.

Abhor what is evil.

Host fast to what is good.

Love one another with brotherly affection.

Outdo one another in showing honor.

Let’s start a trend and answer #karlsquestion by saying something positive and encouraging to someone with whom we disagree.

Let’s turn the tables on the hostile behavior and corrupt character that we see, and set an example in “in love, in speech, and in purity” (see 1 Timothy 4:12).

Each person, from the unborn to the aged, is made in the image of God, created by Him, for His purposes.

Let’s apologize for our lack of love and honor and let’s show kindness to even those who disagree with us. We don’t have to adopt their stance or excuse their behavior but we can be an example to them in the way that we respond.

I’m sorry that you haven’t witnessed adults acting very mature lately, but I have great hope that you can turn the tide on this behavior and together we can be stronger and be truly great, because we are believing and applying the truth from the greatest leader of all, King Jesus.

welcome

Hi, I'm Katie (a Modern Martha, wife, and mom to five). I'm so glad you're here! Let's enjoy some cut-to-the-chase conversation over hot or iced tea, as we find grace in the unraveling of life (together). Let's exchange try-hard striving for hope-filled freedom as we settle into our position as a doer and a daughter—created by a Loving Father.
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